Social Influence Flashcards
Define Social Influence
The process by which individuals and groups change each other’s attitudes and behaviors.
Define legitimacy of authority
An explanation for obedience which suggests we are more likely to obey people who we perceive to have authority over us due to the position of power that they hold within social hierarchy
Identify three features of an authoritarian personality.
- Submissive to superiors 2. dismissive of inferiors 3. highly prejudiced
Explain how an authoritarian personality develops
Through harsh parenting styles during childhood including strict discipline, criticism of failings, and impossibly high standards. The child cannot express their feelings to their parents so displace these to others they deem weaker.
Which scale measures the authoritarian personality?
The F scale
Give two limitations to the F scale
- has acquiescence bias so all questions are worded in the same direction.
- is politically bias and is very right wing so does not account for left wing authoritarians.
What does Milgram’s original study tell us about obedience?
Suggested that obeying authority is normal behavior in a hierarchically organised society and we will obey orders that distress us and even go against out moral code.
Explain the Impact of proximity on obedience
It decreases obedience rates
Describe the impact of uniform on obedience
increases obedience
Define the agentic state
Individuals obey an order even if they are aware that it is wrong because they feel that they are acting for an authority figure so feel no responsibility for their actions.
What keeps a person in the agentic state?
- Guilt or anxiety at the thought of leaving
- unwillingness to break commitment to experimenter
- denying the impact of their actions
How does social support give the ability to resist social influence?
The presence of people helps others resist the pressures of conforming or obeying.
How does a locus or control resist social influence?
Describes a person’s perception of their control over behaviours, successes, failures and events. A person with a high internal locus of control believes they are responsible for the lives so are more likely to resist.
what’s the difference between internals and externals?
Internals believe they are responsible for what happens and that they direct their own lives whereas externals believe outside forces direct their lives and they do not have control.
what are the two theories that Deutsch and Gerard proposed to explain conformity?
- Normative social influence - when you conform to fit in and to be liked
- Informative social influence- when you conform due to the need to be right or correct.
Define identification
going along with others because you have accepted their point of view and you identify with them
